Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



B. G. BATGHELLER. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS. 4 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1905. nmmwzn FEB. e, 1913.

1, 1 1 5,770, Patented Nov. 3, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. N L m Arron/25y.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTOJJTHO., WASHINGTON. D. C

B. G. BATCHELLBR. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 11, 19057 RENEWED FEB. 6, 1913.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

3 BHEETSSHBET 2.

nflffffllfl gall/Ill! IHE NORRIS PETERS CO" PHOWLITHOU WASHINGTON. D, C.

B. G. BATGHELLER. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR .11, 1905. RENEWED FEB. 0, 1913.

1, 1 1 5,770. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVEN T0 WI E8358:

UNITED s'rA'rns} PATENT onnron,

BIBNEY c. BATcHELLEn, orrn'msnntrnm, rnNnsYLvAnrA; [AssIcrNon r0 THE PEARSALL PNEUMATIC runs AND rowan coirran'r, or new YORK, N. n, soon ron'ArIoN on NEW, YORK.

PNEUMATIC- Esrn'rcn-rosn APPARATUS.

Application filed March 11, 1905, Serial No. 249,569. Renewed February 6, 1813. Serial No. 746,671. I

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, 'BIR EY 'C. Enrol-inntan, a citizen of the United States of Ame-rica, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic-Despttch-Tube Apparatus of which the following is a true and exact description reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which torm a part thereof.

My invention relates to pneumatic despatchtube apparatus of the kind in which a vacuum is employed and it has for its object to provide improved means for opening and closing the transit tube to the vacuum pipe or reservoir.

llhe nature of my improvements will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings in which they are illustrated and in which Figure 1, is an elevation representing'two stations connected by a transit tube and equipped with, my improved mechanism. Fi 2, is aplan view of the station mechanism embodying my improvements. Fig.

2 is a partial sectional elevation on the line r/.a of Fig. 2. Flg. 3, a vertical SGCClOIl.

on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4:, a vertical section on the line l4t, of Fig. 2. Fig. v5, :1. plan of the station device viewed from the bottom, and Figs. 6 and 7 diagrammatic views illustrating the nature and operation oi" my improved device. I a I t A, is the transit tube whichin the plan shown is a single tube having open ends mA. A, in two connected stations, B, B,

ctc.,.indicating curved receivers by which the carrier is engaged when it leaves the transit tube. A

C, Q indicate the vacuum pipe or pipes in whichfa constant vacuum is maintained by mechanism not shown. i

D, D, etc, are the station appliances which, as, shown, consist of a chamber 1)., in permanent connection with the pipe (3, and

connected through a cylindrical passage D with the chamber D which chamber: con.- nects with the atmosphere through a sec ond cylindrical passage D, and, by means of a lateral passage D with openingsD, in the transit pipe. The lateral passage 1), as shown, extends around a vertical passage D which is provided for the passagei of p a rod hi, the purpose of which will be hereafter described.

In the construction shown the casting iorinmg the chamber D 13 connected by 1n- Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedjflov, 3, 1914,

tegral webs D D with a cylinder indicated a at D, which cylinder is open at the top and through a passage I), connected with the pipe J by which the cylinder can be placed. in comi'nunica-tlon wih the vacuum pipe, a

lateral port D I), having. in it a valve seat D which connectscylinder D y'with the atmosphere, i i l E, is an adjustable abutment screwextending into the bottom of the cylinder D. F, is a cylindrical valvemoving in'the cylindrical chamberDfl and connected with a cylindrical valve F", which is adapted to move in the cylindricalchamber D. "This double fjvalve, by. means of the spindle F is connected with the piston F 301. the cylinder D. r

F is a shoulder secured onthe'spindle F as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4;. Y G, isla shaft extending between two of the webs D and serving to 'pivotally support the lever Gr, having the laterally ex tending lever arn1.(}?, which is drawn downward by the action of a spring G H, see Fig. 3, is a valve adapted to seatitself on. the port D and provid'edwith a valve spindle H, having a split ring HF. secured near its upper end which upper endextends through a hole in the lever G The valve is normally Seated .by the action of a spring H I k v I. is a three way valve or cock. casing in which worksthe threeway valve I, see Figs. 6 and 7. The valve casing has one of its ports connected by a pipe J, with a vacuum pipe C, another connected by the pipe J, with thesimilar portof a valve casing in the connected station, and a thirdcon I nected bv pipe J with thecylinder'Dh',

K, see Figs. 3 and i. is the spindle of the I valve 1, supported in convenient bearings and turned by means of a handle K. .Secured on the spindleK. is a collar K having a projecting finger K see Figs. 2 and 3, which extends under and normallylies close against a valve L, which valve normally closes the end of thetube A and is hinged on the spindle K, by hinge lugs L, L. A spring lj actsto hold the valve L, closed.

L, indicates adug Wmgwnuw valve L,'

in Fig. 3, the lower end of the rod extending through a perforation in the lever arm (i and having an enlargement M, secured on it in proper position to engage the said lever arm for purposes to be described.

N, Fig. 7, indicates a carrier in process of transmission through the tube.

In the diagrammatic Figs. 6 and 7, l have indicated the parts shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive in simplified form, but use the same indicating letters, marking for instance the upper face of the disk valve secured to the stem F with the symbol F, and the lower face with the symbol F; this disk valve being substantially the same in its connections and operation as the two piston valves F and F.

p The valves and valve actuating appliances are normally in the position shown in Figs. 3, l: and 6, that is to say, the valves I are turned so as to connect the two cylinders D D through the pipe J, J, and out both of them off from the pipes J, which pipes connect with the vacuum tube C. The valves L, L ,"ar also closedand the tube A, is in free commimication with the atmosphere at both ends. V hen it is desired'to send a carrier from, for instance, the ri 'ht hand station to the left hand station of the diagrammatic figures, the operator turns the valve 1, at the right hand station to the position shown in Fig. 7, thereby connecting the cylinder at the left hand station through the pipe J, with the pipe J, and vacuum pipe C, at the right hand station. This connection causes the piston F to move in a direction to actuate the valve F, F, to open the left hand end of the transit tube to the vacuum tube C, and cut off its connection with the atmosphere; the right hand end of the transit tube being still in connection with the atmosphere the air flows in at the right hand end and the carrier moves rapidly to the left hand end of the tube, finally lifting the valve L, and issuing therefrom.

To refer more particularly to the detail mechanism shown in. FigsLQ to, 5, it will be seen that when the cylinder D is connected to the vacuum pipe, as described, the piston F will be drawn down, as will also the piston valves F, and F, the valve F, entering the cylindrical passage D and cutting ofi atmospheric connection with the chamber D just as the piston valve F, passes out of the cylindrical chamber D and admits the vacuum from the pipe G, into the chamber D When the stroke of the piston F and its connected parts is completed the spring G acting on the lever arm G causes the lever arm G, to engage with the shoulder F thereby locking the air valve F, F, in ,open position, the motion of the lever arm G?, in accomplishing this lockingpressin'gdown the spindle H, through its collar on a nut adjustable on the threaded rod F .,H and opening the air valve H, so that the bottom of the cylinder 1), isin communica tion with the atmosphere. The exact point to which the piston F shall movedown is determined by the adjustment of the screw abutment E. The shoulder F is formed and is adjusted to'correspond with the position of the abutment E.

When the carrier reaches the end of the tube from which it is to be delivered it strikes against the fluid valve L, raising this valve and through the lug or lugs L, the rod M, is drawn upward until its enlargement M, engages the le'l er arm G and acts upon it so as to draw the stop lever G, out of engagement with the shoulder F whereupon the atmospheric pressure acting on the piston valve F, causes this valve and its connected part F, to move upward to the position shown in Figs. 3 and a, cutting oif the connection between the transit tube and the vacuumpipe. v

As shown, I have arranged the valve spindle K, in connection with the collar K with its finger K so that when it is desired to insert a carrier the spindle is turned with the effect of raising the valve L, so as to give access to the end of the transit tube and also of shifting the valve 1, to the position shown at the right hand side of Fig. 7.

The mechanism shown is characterized by its simplicity and effectiveness. Aside from the transit tubing running between the two stations, the only connection between the stations is the auxiliary pipe J, which, with the pilot valves 1, forms the controlling mechanism for the pneumatically actuated means for, obtaining carrier movements in either direction between the stations. The pneumatically I actuated means comprising the two vacuum connections C, G and the valve mechanism controlling communication between the vacuum connections C, C and the endsof the't ransit tubing A form compact and eflicient instrumentalities for the purpose for which they are designed and used.

It will be obvious that my device is capable of many variations and modifications without departure from the underlying i11- vention and I wish it to be distinctly under stood that save where specific mechanical details are made a part of the combinations claimed I do not wish to be understood as in anyway limiting myself to the mere mechanism illustrate Iaving now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.is I

1. In a pneumatic despatch tube system in which carriers are transmitted in either direction between two stations, transit tubing normally open to the atmosphere through when either pilot valve stations, pneumatically actuated means for creating a flow of air. through the transit tubing to move the carrier from either station to the other, and controlling mechanism therefor. comprising a pilot valve at each station, operated upon the insertion of a carrier at that station, and an auxiliary tube running between the stations to which the pilot valves are connected and which is adapted to have an air flow set up in it When either pilot valve is operated.

2.- In a pneumatic despatch tube system in which carriers are transmitted in either direction between two stations, transittubing normally open to the atmosphere through which carriers are transmitted between the stations, an exhaust chamber, pneumatically actuated valve mechanism for connecting said tubing to said exhaust chamber to create a flow of air through the transit tubing for moving a carrier from either station to the other, and actuating mechanism for said valve mechanism, comprising a pilot valve at each station, operated upon the insertion of a carrier at that station, and an auxiliary tube running between the stations and so connected to said pilot valves and said exhaust chamber that is operated an air flow is set up through said auxiliary tube which operates said valve mechanism.

3. In a pneumatic despatch tube system the combination with the transit tubing connecting two stations of a valve mechanism at each station for setting up an air flow toward said station from the other station through said transit tubing, each station for operating the said valve mechanism at the other station.

1:. in a pneumatic despatch tube systema single line of transit tubing through which carriers are transmitted in either direction between two stations, a valve mechanism at each station for setting up an air HOW to ward said station from the other station Copies of this patent may be obtained for and means at through said transit tubing and means at each station for op erating the said valve mechanism at the other station.

5. In a pneumatic despatch tube system a single line of transit tubing through which carriers are transmitted in either direction ward said station through said transit each station for op mechanism at the other station,

from the other station tubing and means at crating the said valve said mechanism and means at each station being oper:

atively-connected to nism at the other iliary tube.

6. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a single line of transittubi the means and mechastation by a common auxcarriers are transmitted in either direction between two stations, ated valve mechanism at each station setting up an air flow toward for said station from the other station through said transit tubing, pneumatic m operating the said val other station, and a connecting the said eans at each station for common mechanism and means at each station to the'means and mechanism at the other station.

. 7. In a pneumatic the combination with necting two stations,

a valve mechanism at each connecting the corresponding each station and station for despatch tube system, a transit tubing conof a vacuum pipe at end of the transit tubing to the corresponding vacuum pipe,

and means at each station for utilizing the difference between thepressure of the atmosphere and the pressure in acuum pipe to operate the corresponding v the valve mecl'iamsm \Vitnesses at the other station.

' BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER.

A NOLD KATZ,

D. STEWART.

Washington, I). C.

fcommissioner of Patents,

ng through which a pneumatically actuve mechanism at the auxiliary tube a 

